Display device



Jan. 5 19320 A. L. WOLF SON DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 12, 1930.

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES ALBERT L. WOLESON, OF NEW YORK,CORPORATION, NEW YORK, N.

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO VIKING PRODUCTS Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DISPLAY'DEVICE Application filed July 12,

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel anduseful display device for supporting, displaylng and advertisingarticles of merchandise in an attractive manner upon a counter or withina show window.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the display device;

Fig. 2 a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The display device is a compact, portable unit providing a luminoustable-like support for dlsplayed articles, and a luminous advertisingsign disposed back of the supported articles. The structure of thedevice includes an elongated lamp casing 1 comprising a body section 2forming the front, rear and top of the casing, .endsections 3 secured tosection 1, and a flat removable bottom section 4. These parts are, inthe present instance, formed of sheet-metal. Along their lower edges thesections 2 and 3 are bent inward and downward to form downwardly openinghook-like flanges 5. The bottom section 4 has its margins bent upward toform upstanding flanges 6 for'frictionally fitting in the flanges 5 andyieldably holding the bottom section in place. Knob-like feet 7 aresecured to the bottom section near the opposite ends thereof and servefor supporting the casing slightly elevated upon a'support, and also forpulling the bottom section from the body section of the casing. Mountedupon one of the end sections 3 and concealed within the casing is anelectric lamp socket 7 into which is screwed an elongated electric lamp8. The latter extends throughout most of the length of the lamp casing,and apertures 9 are formed along the bottom section for ventilating thecasing. Conductor cords 10 lead from the lamp socket and are providedwith a plug 11 for connection with a source of electric current. Theinner walls of the easing are covered with a white coating 12.

Along its upper side, directly over the lamp 8, the casing is formedwith a longitudinal lamp and is defined by forwardly turned cle's topanel 20.

1930. Serial No. 467, 76.

slot 13 extending substantially the length of p the casing and definedby upwardly turned flanges 14. A similar longitudinal slot 15 is formedin the casing directly in front of the flanges 16. An uprighttransparent glass panel 17 has its lower edge margin fitted in the slot13, snugly between the flanges 14, and its side margins and upper edgemargins snugly fitted in a supporting frame 18. This frame is formed ofsheet metal and it is secured at its lower end to the casing andsupported thereby. Extending forward horizontally from the slot 15 is aframe 19 which supports a transparent glass panel 20. This frame is alsoformed of sheet metal and is rigidly secured to the casing 1 at its rearend. Each side thereof is substantially L-shaped in cross section toprovide a ledge 21 supporting the plate 20 along its front and sideedges, and an upstanding flange 22 surrounding said edges. The rear edgemargin of the panel 20 fits into the slot 15 between the flanges 16.Thereby the plate is removably supported. It may, however, bepermanently secured in place. Feet23, made of sheet metal, are securedto the forward edge of the frame 19 and support it in horizontalposition sothat the panel 20 may serve as a support for artibedisplayed. -While the lamp casing, frames and other parts described are,in the present instance, made of sheet metal, they may be made of castmetal, wood or other suitable materials. p The upright panel. 17 bears adesign 24 in the'form of an advertisement, such as the name or trademark of the articles displayed. Another design 25'is borne by thehorizontal This design is preferably of. an ornamental character. Bothdesigns are defined by light-diffusing surfaces formed upon one surfaceof the panels. In the present instance these surfaces are formed, uponthe rear surface of panel 17 and u on the under surface of panel '20, bysan blasting the panels to a material depth so that thesurfacesof thedesigns are indented and roughened. The light-diflusing surfaces'may beotherwise formed, however, and they may be located upon the obversefaces of the 100 panels. Each panel has its faces fiat, smooth andparallel and the field surrounding its design is clear and transparent.The inner edges of both panels are exposed within the casing 1 to thelight source represented by the lamp 8, and the latter extends along theline of intersection of the planes of the panels. Light rays will,therefore, enterthe panels through said exposed edges, and be subjectedto reflection back and forth therein between the smooth parallel faceswithout escaping therefrom. The light-diffusing surfaces defining thedesigns will, however, so reflect some of the rays as to permit them toescape through the obverse faces of the panels and thereby render thedesigns luminous.

In the use of the device it may be placed upon a counter, stand, orother support, or within a show window, and articles to be displayedWill be placed upon the panel 20. WVhen an article of merchandise isproperly placed with reference to theornalnental design 25 the latter,together with the upright back panel with its luminous design, willattractively set off the article. makes a particularly good displaystand for ornamental toilet articles such as bottles of perfume. Abottle suitably placed upon the luminous design will have the lightdiffused through it and will become luminous also. In fact, practicallyany small article may be displayed very attractively. The device isextremely simple in construction. It is also a compact andreadilyportable unit which may be conveniently placed in an advantageousposition and plugged into service. When it is desirable to change thedesign 25 to suit different articles to be displayed,the panel 20 may bereadily removed and replaced by a panel bearing a suitable design. Thedevice can be used to good advantage-in stores, display rooms,exhibition halls and many other public places.

What I claim is:

1. A unitary, portable, self-supporting display device formed forstanding upon a showcase, counter or the like, comprising asubstantially horizontal table-forming panel an upright panel extendingupward from a point adjacent the rear edge of said table panel, bothpanels being formed of lightpervious material; a light source disposedat the intersection of theplanes of said panels and exposed to theadjacent edges of the latter for transmission of light rays through thepanels; a casing enclosing the light source and said panel edges andsupporting the upright panel and the rear edge of the horizontal panel,the latter serving as a support for articles; a design upon a faceof thetable panel; and an advertising design upon a face of the'upright panel,the panels being formed with light-diffusing surface areas defining saiddesigns and permitting escape of rays The device transmitted through thepanels from said source.

2. A unitary, portable, self supporting display device formed forstanding upon a showcase, counter or the like comprising a substantiallyhorizontal table'forming panel; an upright panel extending upward from apoint adjacent the rear edge of said tableforming panel, both panelsbeing formed of light-pervious material; a light source disposed at theintersection of the planes of said panels and exposed to the adjacentedges of the latter for transmission of light rays through the panels; acasing enclosing the light source and said panel edges and supportingthe upright panel and the rear edge of the table-forming panel;supporting means for the forward edge of the table-forming panel,whereby the latter serves as a table for supporting and displayingarticles; a design upon a face of the table-forming panel; and a designupon a face of the upright panel, the panels being formed withlight-difi'using surface areas defining said designs and pcr- Inittingescape of rays transmitted through the panels from said source.

A unitary, portable, self-supporting display device formed forstandingupon a showcase, counter or the like comprising a substantiallyhorizontal table-forming pancl formed of light-pervious material; alight source extending along and exposed to one edge of said panel fortransmission of light rays through the panel; a casing enclosing thelight source and said panel edge; a design upon a face of thetable-forming panel, the panel being formed with lightdiffusing surfaceareas defining said design and permitting escape of rays transmittedthrough the panels from said source; an advertising sign extendingupward from said edge of the panel; and means supporting the panelsubstantially horizontal and the sign upright, whereby the panel servesas a table for supporting and dis laying articles and the sign isdisposed bac of the supported articles.

4. A unitary, portable, self-supporting display device formed forstanding upon a sho\vcase, counter or the like comprising asubstantially horizontal table-forming panel; an upright panel extendingupward from a point adjacent one edge of said table-formingpanel; meanssupporting said panels in said relation, the horizontal panel serving asa support for displayed articles; a design upon a face of thetable-forming panel; a

design upon a face of the upright panel;

illuminatlng means to illuminate'areas of said panels and render thedesigns conspicuous; and means concealing said illuminating means. v

5. A unitary, portable, self-supporting, display device formed forstanding upon a showcase, counter, or the like, comprising asubstantially horizontal table-forming panel;

an upright panel extending upward from a point adjacent the rear edge ofsaid tableforming panel, both panels being of lightpervious material; alight source disposedat the intersection of the planes of said panelsand exposed to the adjacent edges of the latter for. transmission ofrays through the panels: a casing enclosing the light source and saidpanel edges and supporting the back panel; a supporting frame for thetable-forming panel supported at its rear edge bysaid casing; feetsupporting said frame at points spaced forward from the casing, the feetand casing supporting the frame elevated with the space beneath it andthe table-forming panel exposed, the latter panel serving for supportingand displaying articles; a design upon a face of the upright panel; anda design upon a face of the table-forming panel, the panels being formedwith light-diffusing face areas defining said designs and permittingescape of rays transmitted through the panels from said light source.

6. A unitary, portable, self-supporting display device formed forstanding upon a showcase, counter or the like, comprising asubstantially horizontal table-forming panel for supporting displayedarticles; a back panel extending upward from a point ad- 3 jacent therear edge of said table-forming panel, both panels being oflight-pervious material; a light source disposed at the intersection ofthe planes of said panels and exposed to the adjacent edges of thelatter for transmission of rays through the panels; a casing enclosingthe light source and said panel edges and detachably supporting the backpanel; a supporting frame for the tableforming panel supported at itsrear edge by said casing;

ing its forward edge and pulling the panel feet supporting the frame at7 points spaced forward from the casing, the feet and easing supportingthe frame ele-' casing enclosing the light source and said panel edgesand supporting the back panel, said casing having a downwardly removableunder section giving access to the interior of the casing and providedwith knob-like feet for withdrawing said section and for suporting thecasing; a supporting frame for the table-forming panel supported at itsrear edge by the casing; feet supporting said frame at points spacedforward from the casing, the feet and easing supporting the frameelevated, with the space beneath it and the tableforming panel exposed;a design upon a face of the back panel; and a design upon a face of thetable-forming panel, the panels being formed with light-diffusing faceareas defining said designs and permitting escape of light raystransmitted through the panels from said source.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature.

ALBERT L. VVOLFSON.

forward free of the casing; a design upon a face of the back panel; anda design upon a face of the table-forming panel, the panels being formedwith light-diffusing face areas defining said designs and permittingescape of light from said source.

7. A unitary, portable, self-supporting,

display device formed for standing upon a showcase, counter or the like,comprising a substantially horizontal table-forming panel forsupportingdisplayed articles; a back panel extending upward from a pointadjacent the rear edge of the table-forming panel, both panels being oflight-pervious material; a light source disposed at the intersection ofthe planes of the panels and exposed to the adjacent edges of the latterfor 55 transmission of rays through the panels; a

